Cheptegei: “I don’t know the record, but anything is possible”

the Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, world record holder of 5,000 and 10,000 meters outdoors, stated this Friday that he does not know if he can beat the record of San Silvestre Vallecanawho was in 26:54, because he was injured this year, although he admitted that “sometimes in the race, anything can happen”.

Cheptegei, 26, will be looking to beat compatriot Jacob Kiplimo’s record in Madridwho in 2018, with a time of 26:41, broke the previous record (26:54), held by Eliud Kipchoge since 2006.

The Ugandan athlete, double world champion in 10,000 meters and Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo in 5,000, He will also try in Vallecas to achieve the best ever mark in the 10k, currently held by Kenyan Rhonex Kipruto, when he ran 26:24 in Valencia in 2020. If it were to be achieved in Madrid, it would not be a world record as it would not be comparable due to the extreme unevenness of the test.

“It was a great pleasure to run San Silvestre. I wanted to run this race because in 2018 I was close but an injury prevented me. This year I was also injured, I’ve been running a bit, but I’ve recovered,” said Cheptegei, at a press conference.

“Once in the race, anything is possible, although the important thing is to recover the sensations after the injury“, admitted the Ugandan athlete, who assured that “some of the best moments” of his career were in Spain, especially in Valencia, in the ten kilometer race.

Joshua Cheptegei arrived in Madrid on December 31 with the best score of the year in the 10k after 26:49 recorded in Cannes (France) on March 6.

“I don’t know if it could be a note. I will try but the important thing is to have a good feeling“, he concluded.